Mood and self-motivation in successful and unsuccessful female rowers

Abstract

Mood state (POMS) and self-motivation (SMI) were assessed in 84 women vying for a position on a collegiate freshman rowing team. Forty-four of these rowers also completed a standardized rowing ergometer task. Mood state was assessed three additional times during the season with 22 rowers who adhered to training throughout the entire season. No differences (P > 0.05) in baseline mood state were observed between the dropouts (N = 62) and those who adhered to the training (N = 22). However, the dropouts possessed significantly lower self-motivation (P < 0.05) and took longer to complete the rowing task than did the adherers (P < 0.05). Near the end of the season, rowers were chosen by the coaching staff to compete in regional competition (i.e., successful adherers). Initial self-motivation and ergometer performance did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the successful and unsuccessful adherers. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that global mood disturbance (P < 0.05) increased during the training season in both groups. At the end of the training season, the unsuccessful adherers still possessed significantly (P < 0.05) elevated mood disturbance, whereas the mood of the successful group had returned to baseline. It is concluded that female rowers who adhere to a season of competitive training have higher self-motivation and superior ergometer performances at the outset than do the eventual dropouts.